Receiver Jeremy Ross went from the Green Bay Packers practice squad last October to the active roster in December to the most important game of the season.

With just five games, four returned punts and three kickoffs returns to sum up his total NFL experience, Ross lined up in the second quarter of the NFC divisional game at San Francisco.

And he muffed the punt from Andy Lee.

San Francisco went on to recover the ball at Green Bay's 9-yard line and scored the tying touchdown just three plays later. Ross was replaced by Randall Cobb, just coming back from injury, for the rest of the game and the Packers season ended in the loss to the 49ers.

That was Jan. 12.

Ross dealt with all of the disappointment and frustration of his one mistake on Jan. 13. It is now, he hopes, as far in the rear view mirror for everyone else as it is for him.

"I took one day after the game to kind of just feel bad about it, be discouraged about it, be upset, be sad, whatever," said Ross. "Then the next day I flushed it. I just tried my best to move forward. And think about OK, who am I trying to become now. What am I working toward?"

A second year, he hopes, with a second chance.

There are open spots on this roster for people to catch the ball from Aaron Rodgers. Donald Driver has retired and Greg Jennings is a Minnesota Viking.

"Not having those guys here was a little different, I was kind of bummed," said Ross. "But we've got a good group of guys here now. More opportunities."

Also, more challengers. The Packers took two receivers in the draft, albeit late, in Kevin Dorsey and Charles Johnson.

Ross said he went back to Cal in the off-season and worked on squats, bench presses and other weightlifting techniques to help him with explosion.

"It helps receivers to be able to stand up and explode up with a lot of weight," said Ross. "It helps with jumping, running through tackles."

He said that during the organized team activities that kicked off last week, he wasn't with the punt unit because the focus that day was on the punting and not the returning. He still wants to audition for the return job again.